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== Etymology ==

== Etymology ==

Apte defines पथ्य as wholesome diet, suitable, fit, proper. Shabdakalpadruma explains it as चिकित्सादौ हित-कारकम्  

Apte defines पथ्य as wholesome diet, suitable, fit, proper. Shabdakalpadruma explains it as चिकित्सादौ हित-कारकम् meaning useful in treatment. <blockquote>पथ्यं-पथो अनपेतं यध्यच्चोक्तं मनसःप्रियम॥ [च.सू.२५/४५]</blockquote>The root term for Pathya is ‘Patha’ which means various channels in the body & ‘Anapetam’ means not causing any harm to the human body and mind. So, any food which is not harmful for body channels and on the contrary which is wholesome - soothing for body can be labelled as Pathya. Which is basic but most important concept in Ayurveda which seems to be practical and must be practiced clinically in today’s era.

 

Art and science of preparing and dispensing food as medicine in the practice of healing is Pathya. “Nidan parivarjan=Treatment” which means removal of cause by Pathya-Apathya regarding disease is considered as first step towards treatment.  

The root term for Pathya is ‘Patha’ which means various channels in the body & ‘Anapetam’ means not causing any harm to the human body and mind. So, any food which is not harmful for body channels and on the contrary which is wholesome - soothing for body can be labelled as Pathya. Which is basic but most important concept in Ayurveda which seems to be practical and must be practiced clinically in today’s era.

It is possible if one uses diet considering the tridosa, prakriti, satmya of person as well as panchabhautika penta composition of dietary substances. It covers all the nutritive values as it provides healthy food having all the six tastes thus help in maintaining the Panchabhautika (penta elemental) constitution of body along with mind. The equilibrium of these five elements in the body denotes health while their imbalance or disturbance denotes disease. Panchabhautik Chikitsa is a branch of Ayurveda which bases the analysis and treatment based upon this principle. It is also quoted that “No amount of medication can do any good to patient who does not observe Pathya, likewise no amount of medication is needed to a patient if he follows Pathya". {{Citation needed|reason=reliable source needed for the whole sentence}}

Art and science of preparing and dispensing food as medicine in the practice of healing is Pathya. It is also quoted that “No amount of medication can do any good to patient who does not observe Pathya, likewise no amount of medication is needed to a patient if he follows Pathya". {{Citation needed|reason=reliable source needed for the whole sentence}}

* Pathya used in Panchakarma to boost the fatigued Annavaha Srotas (digestive system) and Purishavaha Srotas (excretory system) to regain the healthy stage from weakened one.

* Pathya used in Panchakarma to boost the fatigued Annavaha Srotas (digestive system) and Purishavaha Srotas (excretory system) to regain the healthy stage from weakened one.

* Pathya helps the patients maintain their dhatus (basic elements) in a healthy state preventing fluctuations due to doshas.  

* Pathya helps the patients maintain their dhatus (basic elements) in a healthy state preventing fluctuations due to doshas.  

An important step in the preparation of Pathya is Samskara. It involves the processing of raw food to a suitable form (cooked etc) to alter its properties and make it suitable for acceptance inside the patients body. Pathya prescribed to one person may not be the same for another person. It changes in individuals also depending upon various components (Age-season, disease, psychological status, habits, dominance of doshas). Sometimes the change in a process changes the properties to a completely opposite nature.

An important step in the preparation of Pathya is Samskara. It involves the processing of raw food to a suitable form (cooked etc) to alter its properties and make it suitable for acceptance inside the patients body. Pathya prescribed to one person may not be the same for another person. It changes in individuals also depending upon various components (Age-season, disease, psychological status, habits, dominance of doshas). Sometimes the change in a process changes the properties to a completely opposite nature.

So incorporation of “Pathya” makes our food healthy and pleasurable with accomplishing basic objective of Ayurveda. It stresses Ayurveda’s approach that the digestive capability of the patients is equally important to that of the properties of the drugs. It covers all the nutritive values as it provides healthy food having all the six tastes thus help in maintaining the Panchabhautika (penta elemental) constitution of body along with mind. The equilibrium of these five elements in the body denotes health while their imbalance or disturbance denotes disease. Panchabhautik Chikitsa is a branch of Ayurveda which bases the analysis and treatment based upon this principle.

So incorporation of “Pathya” makes our food healthy and pleasurable with accomplishing basic objective of Ayurveda. It stresses Ayurveda’s approach that the digestive capability of the patients is equally important to that of the properties of the drugs.

=== Apathya ===

=== Apathya ===

There are many foods mentioned many centuries ago in Ayurveda which require patenting as a part food therapeutics. All these food recipes are even though practiced by the practitioners, the ideal methodology is still obscure, it remains one of the baffling enigmas for dietetics.

There are many foods mentioned many centuries ago in Ayurveda which require patenting as a part food therapeutics. All these food recipes are even though practiced by the practitioners, the ideal methodology is still obscure, it remains one of the baffling enigmas for dietetics.

Ayurveda is based on the principle "Let your food be your medicine and not to make medicine be your food." Ayurveda emphasizes much more on diet, regimen which is beneficial to the body and gives the happiness to the mind. Any eating habits known to produce results harmful to the body is known as Apathya. '''(Add a proper sloka and explanation of it for Apathya)'''

Ayurveda is based on the principle "Let your food be your medicine and not to make medicine be your food." Ayurveda emphasizes much more on diet, regimen which is beneficial to the body and gives the happiness to the mind. Any eating habits known to produce results harmful to the body is known as Apathya. '''(Add a proper sloka and explanation of it for Apathya). Vaidya Lolimbraj in his book "Vaidya-jeevanam" has given a very important principal regarding pathya-apathya'''

 

'''Pathye Sati Gadartasya Kimaushadh Nishevanaihi \\'''  

=== Pathya and Apathya Foods ===

=== Pathya and Apathya Foods ===

Pathya kalpana is suggested both for use in Dinacharya (daily routine) and as Rutucharya (7? seasonal routines). Rutucharya constitutes the Pathya to be followed during different seasons and is briefly described below.

Pathya kalpana is suggested both for use in Dinacharya (daily routine) and as Rutucharya (7? seasonal routines). Rutucharya constitutes the Pathya to be followed during different seasons and is briefly described below.

=== Regimen of Winter Season ===

==== Regimen of Winter Season ====

* Take the unctuous, sour, salty juices of meat of aquatic and marshy which are fatty.

* Take the unctuous, sour, salty juices of meat of aquatic and marshy which are fatty.

* Avoid vata vitiating food. For example : The meat of burrow-dwelling animals and bhrushta prepared of animals of prasaha.  

* Avoid vata vitiating food. For example : The meat of burrow-dwelling animals and bhrushta prepared of animals of prasaha.  

* Fomentations of jentaka process may be applied as required.

* Fomentations of jentaka process may be applied as required.

=== Regimen of Dewy Season ===

==== Regimen of Dewy Season ====

Cold climate caused by the cloud, wind, and rains prevail. Follow a regimen similar to that of the winter regimen with a few additions

Cold climate caused by the cloud, wind, and rains prevail. Follow a regimen similar to that of the winter regimen with a few additions

* Avoid taking the cold drinks. Have light diet.

* Avoid taking the cold drinks. Have light diet.

* Avoid taking are possessed of pungent, bitter and astringent taste.

* Avoid taking are possessed of pungent, bitter and astringent taste.

=== Regimen of Spring Season ===

==== Regimen of Spring Season ====

At the advent of spring one should habitually resort to exercise, unction, smoking and gargling.

At the advent of spring one should habitually resort to exercise, unction, smoking and gargling.

* Avoid heavy, unctuous, sour, and sweet diets.

* Avoid heavy, unctuous, sour, and sweet diets.

* Take food consisting of barley and wheat, meat of sharabha, shasha, ena lava and kapinjala.

* Take food consisting of barley and wheat, meat of sharabha, shasha, ena lava and kapinjala.

=== Regimen of Summer Season ===

==== Regimen of Summer Season ====

* During the night, after having besmeared the body with chandan paste, one should sleep on the open airy roof of the house which is cooled by the ray of moon.

* During the night, after having besmeared the body with chandan paste, one should sleep on the open airy roof of the house which is cooled by the ray of moon.

* One should either drink alcohol in little quantity or should not drink at all and even if one drinks, he should drink along with plenty of water.

* One should either drink alcohol in little quantity or should not drink at all and even if one drinks, he should drink along with plenty of water.

* Avoid exercise.

* Avoid exercise.

=== Regimen of Rainy Season ===

==== Regimen of Rainy Season ====

* One should generally use honey in preparing diets, drinks and other.

* One should generally use honey in preparing diets, drinks and other.

* Avoid the taking mantha diluted in excess.

* Avoid the taking mantha diluted in excess.

* Excessive exercise, Indulgence in sexual intercourse.

* Excessive exercise, Indulgence in sexual intercourse.

=== Regimen of Autumn Season ===

==== Regimen of Autumn Season ====

* In this season sweet, light, cold and bitter foods and drinks which have potentialities to alleviate pitta.

* In this season sweet, light, cold and bitter foods and drinks which have potentialities to alleviate pitta.

* Avoid taking sun bath.

* Avoid taking sun bath.

* Use Hanshodaka  

* Use Hanshodaka  

Most of the health problems develop due to the faulty eating habits, regimen. Ayurveda deals with the pathya in a very scientific way.  

 

 

Most of the health problems develop due to the faulty eating habits, regimen. Ayurveda deals with the pathya in a very scientific way. The planning of diet mentioned in our classical literature is very rational and based on certain principles. Lot of importance is given to the diet with regard to its processing, quality, quantity and so on. Due consideration is given to the atmosphere, psychological condition, status of health, digestion etc. of the person while dealing with this issue. The diet should also be planned according to the age, season, habitat and the preference of the person. Proper use of diet not only prevents the diseases but plays major role in the management of the diseases. As said,

 

 

which means removal of cause by Pathya-Apathya regarding disease is considered as first step towards treatment. It is possible if one uses diet considering the tridosa, prakriti, satmya of person as well as penta composition of dietary substances.

== References ==

== References ==